No, not that kind of weight. The Sierra Club is asking you to lose one ton of carbon dioxide from your life. Carbon dioxide emissions contribute to the greenhouse effect and global climate change. Global warming is a massive change in the Earth’s environment, and we are gambling our planet’s future on the results. You can reduce the risk (and save money) with some simple lifestyle changes.

Want to lose a ton? Go on an energy diet.

Global warming is the most serious long-term environmental threat to Hawai`i. Scientists predict sea level rise, more severe hurricanes, and hotter temperatures. We all contribute to global warming. Each Hawai`i resident averages 18 TONS of carbon dioxide equivalent greenhouse gas emissions annually1 (by comparison, Japan averages 9 tons per person and Sweden, 6 tons)2. We can do better. We have the knowledge and the ability to significantly reduce our contribution to global warming.

Here are ten ways to lose one ton a year from your lifestyle. And the best part? This weight loss plan will help save the environment AND your wallet.

1) Replace 7 100-Watt bulbs with 15-Watt compact fluorescent bulbs. Save one ton and big bucks annually. (O`ahu: $217, Big Island: $337, Kaua`i: $369, Maui: $315)3,4,5

2) Bike commute (or telecommute) 3 days per week to work. Save one ton and $328 annually6,7,8,9

3) Convert to from electric to solar hot water at home. Save nearly one ton each for a three-person household annually. (O`ahu: $600, Big Island: $930, Kaua`i: $1020, Maui: $870) 3,5,10

4) Trade in your SUV for a fuel-efficient hybrid. Save 2.5 tons and $803 per year. (Switch from a Jeep Cherokee to Toyota Prius and save one pound per mile!)6,11,12

5) Use a clothesline instead of a dryer. Save one ton for a typical household and $$$ annually. (O`ahu: $250, Big Island: $387.50, Kaua`i: $425, Maui: $362.50)3,5,13

6) Install a photovoltaic system for home electricity -- take advantage of the new $5000 tax credit. Save seven and one-half tons for average family usage annually.3,14

7) Skip a trip to the West Coast. Save one ton.14

8) Take TheBus one-third of the time for your transportation needs. Save one ton each year.6,8,12,16

9) Recycle 2500 aluminum cans, 3000 bottles, or 500 pounds of paper. Save one ton.17

10) Go on a Sierra Club work trip and plant 40 trees. Help to sequester (or absorb) one ton.18

BONUS: Get political! Support policies and lawmakers that will help Hawai`i wean itself from fossil fuels. Contact hawaii.chapter@sierraclub.org to sign up for action alerts.

NOTES

1) State of Hawai`i Climate Change Action Plan 1998.
2) United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, 2001.
3) Average of 1.8 pounds of carbon dioxide emitted for each kilowatt hour (kWh) of electricity produced in Hawai`i.
4) Assuming 5-hour daily usage.
5) Residential electricity rates in 2006 per kWh. HECO: $0.20, HELCO: $0.31, Kauai: $0.34, MECO: $0.29.
6) 19.4 pounds of carbon dioxide emitted per gallon of gasoline burned.
7) Assuming 7-mile commute each way.
8) Assuming 22 mile per gallon (mpg) car.
9) Based on $3.30 per gallon.
10) Estimated 3000 kWh savings in average household for solar hot water.
11) Assuming 13 mpg SUV (Jeep Cherokee) to 50 mpg hybrid (Toyota Prius).
12) Hawai`i average of 9000 vehicle miles traveled annually per registered auto.
13) Average family annual use of 1250 kWh.
14) 7800 kWh average household electricity usage per year.
15) One-half pound carbon dioxide emitted per passenger mile on jet.
16) Bus fuel efficiency of 80 mpg equivalent (4 mpg equivalent with average load of 20 passengers).
17) Source: California Integrated Waste Management Board, Container Recycling Institute, and Wisconsin Tissue.
18) One typical tree sequesters 1 ton over 40 years.